Pakistan constitutes federal counter-terror force

Pakistan has constituted a federal counter-terrorism force with an immediate effect for implementing the National Action Plan on counter-terrorism.

Final nod in this regard was given by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Key facts

This force will work under Pakistan’s defence ministry. It will be deployed across Pakistan and will be responsible for countering terrorism and curb increasing militancy.

It will also keep contact with civilian, military-intelligence security agencies and its counter-terrorism wings.

As part of the National Action Plan, Pakistani government is working to stop printing and publication of hate material promoting sectarianism. Even, government is seeking to amend its Constitution to regulate printing of such publications and declare them as illegal.

Furthermore, Central Bank of Pakistan has been directed to supervise anti-terror financing in Pakistan and freeze all accounts which were being used for funding terrorists.

Background

This tough National Action Plan was drafted by Pakistan government in the wake of Taliban fighter’s barbaric attack on school in Peshawar, killing 141 people, 132 of them children on 16th December 2014.